Now Commenting On:

Kemp's shoulder shouldn't sideline him long

Kemp's shoulder shouldn't sideline him long

Email

Print

Kemp exits with injury 1:13

7/5/13: Matt Kemp is forced to leave the game after injuring his shoulder on a swing in the top of the second inning

By Ken Gurnick
/
MLB.com |

SAN FRANCISCO -- A day after Matt Kemp left a game with shoulder pain, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Saturday he's "pretty confident" Kemp won't go on the disabled list and there's "a chance he'll play tomorrow; if not, the next day."

Kemp left Friday night's 10-2 win over the Giants after feeling pain in his acromioclavicular joint (where the collarbone meets the shoulder) on a swing and a miss in the second inning.

Kemp had surgery last year to repair torn cartilage and rotator cuff fraying and a reinjury was Kemp's initial fear. But after talking to teammates that have had similar operations, including Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, Kemp and the Dodgers believe the pain was most likely from scar tissue.

Kemp received a cortisone injection Friday night and was shut down Saturday to allow the medication to reduce inflammation. Carl Crawford started in left field, Andre Ethier in center and Yasiel Puig in right.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.